Anantpur (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 16 (ANI): India and Bengal batter Abhimanyu Easwaran expressed immense joy after scoring a remarkable century in the Duleep Trophy match against India C, highlighting his eagerness to surpass this performance in upcoming matches.

Easwaran etched his name in the history books with an impressive score of 157 during the Duleep Trophy 2024 clash between India B and India C at Anantapur. This spectacular century solidified Easwaran’s reputation as one of the top performers in domestic cricket. Leading as captain of the India B team, Easwaran achieved a historic milestone by carrying his bat through the innings in the Duleep Trophy, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished in the last 21 years, thus leaving an indelible mark on Indian cricket history.

In response to India C’s imposing first-innings total of 525, Easwaran showcased immense resilience and determination. He led his team with a commendable opening partnership exceeding 100 runs, staying at the crease and confronting challenging conditions against a formidable bowling attack. India C’s Anshul Kamboj delivered an exceptional bowling performance, but Easwaran’s century played a pivotal role in keeping India B competitive in the match, which ultimately concluded in a draw.

Reflecting on his outstanding performance and the collective efforts of his team, Easwaran stated, “This match held significant importance for both me and my team. Facing a daunting target of 525, we believed in our batting depth. Our strategy was straightforward: if two or three of us could forge solid partnerships and each score a century, we were confident of reaching the target. Despite our opening partnership reaching only a bit over 100 runs, it became challenging to score additional centuries.”

He further elaborated, “My personal objective was to remain at the crease for as long as possible without getting out. Additionally, I aimed to gather detailed insights on the bowlers to share with my teammates, ensuring we were all aligned in our approach. Anshul Kamboj bowled exceptionally well, but this innings has significantly boosted my confidence.”

Discussing his return to the game post-injury, Easwaran shared, “This is only my second match after spending 2.5 months at the National Cricket Academy recovering from an injury. Scoring a century under these circumstances feels immensely rewarding. I’m eagerly looking forward to surpassing this performance in my next match and clinching the trophy, which remains our ultimate goal.”

In three innings in the Duleep Trophy so far, Easwaran has amassed a total of 174 runs. (ANI)